HORROR INTERVIEW : 5 MINUTES WITH ANNA

Could you tell the readers a little bit about yourself?

I was born in London. I’m a filmmaker, and I write horror stories and screenplays. I love horror films.

Do you prefer the term Horror, Weird Fiction or Dark Fiction?

Horror!

Who are some of your favourite authors?

James Herbert, Stephen King, Richard Matheson, Shirley Jackson, M.R. James, Edgar Allan Poe.

What are you reading now?

His Red Eyes Again – a short story collection by members of The Dracula Society edited by Julia Kruk and Tracy Lee, No Monsters Allowed – a short story anthology edited by Alex Davis, and Necronomicon: The BestWeird Tales of H.P. Lovecraft.

 Which book do you wish you had written?

The Complete Works of Shakespeare. Or Simon’s Necronomicon (that way I’d still be alive).

If you could use any other author’s creation in your own work, who or what would you use?

Stephen King’s Carrie. One poor, scary girl! Perhaps a zombie version of her once she leaves her grave.

How would you describe your writing style?

A cross between Jane Austen and Shaun Hutson.

Describe typical day spent writing. Do you have any unusual writing habits?

I write whenever I am able, which is often at night. I write on my laptop, on the sofa, frequently with the TV on, and the sound turned low. Seems to work for some reason.

What’s your favourite food?

Milk chocolate.

What’s your favourite album?

Probably Slayer’s ‘South of Heaven’.

What’s the most important lesson you have learned about writing?

Don’t stop. The more you write, the better you get. Plus, once you stop it’s very difficult to start again. And keep re-writing.

Fame and fortune, or respect?

Respect. Although fame and fortune would probably help me get a feature film made.

What piece of your own work are you most proud of?

The screenplay adaptation of my novelette The Bloody Tower. I think it’s a good screenplay and would make a great film.

What do you like to do to relax?

Watch horror movies. And sometimes crime dramas or haunted house stuff.

Can you tell us about your last book, and can you tell us about what you are working on next?

My last book is a short story collection called FOR THOSE WHO DREAM MONSTERS. It’s for all those people who, like me, suffer from nightmares and/or have a fascination for the dark side and monsters of all types. I am currently working on a screenplay adaptation of my novelette TEATIME, which should hopefully come out next year in my next horror story collection, working title: BLOODY BRITAIN.

Thanks! J

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Anna Taborska was born in London, England. She is a filmmaker and writer of horror stories, screenplays and poetry. Anna has written and directed two short fiction films, two documentaries and award-winning TV drama 'The Rain Has Stopped'. She also worked on seventeen other films and was involved in the making of two major BBC television series: 'Auschwitz: the Nazis and the Final Solution' and 'World War Two behind Closed Doors - Stalin, the Nazis and the West'.

 Anna's stories have appeared in various anthologies, including the 'Black Books of Horror' and 'Terror Tales of London' in the UK, and 'Best New Writing 2011', 'Best New Werewolf Tales Vol.1' and 'The Best Horror of the Year Volume Four' in the US. Anna's short story 'Bagpuss' was an Eric Hoffer Award Honouree, and the screenplay adaptation of her story 'Little Pig' was a finalist in the Shriekfest Film Festival Screenplay Competition, 2009. 

Anna's debut short story collection, 'For Those who Dream Monsters', is due out in late 2013, with the release of a novelette collection, 'Bloody Britain', planned for 2014. 

You can view Anna's full resume here: 

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1245940/, 

watch her films and book trailers here: 

http://www.youtube.com/annataborska 

and learn more about her short stories and screenplays here: http://annataborska.wix.com/horror.

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